"There was clearly unfinished business between Kerry Rhodes and Rex Ryan as the Jets packed up after Sunday's AFC Championship Game loss to the Colts. When asked if he wanted the Jets' safety back next season, the coach suddenly got cryptic.

"This one I don't really want to talk about much, because there's an individual thing that Kerry and I have talked about," Ryan said. "I'd rather just keep it individual."

Ryan said the talk he had with Rhodes took place Monday and "eight weeks ago," which is about the time he benched the safety for his play in the Jets' 31-14 loss to the Patriots on Nov. 22.

"I'm just going to leave it as I had a conversation with Kerry and, you know, I am man enough to live out my end of the bargain, so to speak," Ryan said.

Rhodes, who signed a five-year, $33.5 extension in April 2008 and is due a $2 million bonus in March, was not much more forthcoming regarding his future.

"I really don't want to talk about that right now," Rhodes said before leaving the training facility. "I don't want to put any note on it, either positive or sour. We had a good run, I want to appreciate that right now.""